Into the rainbow world of Vietnam

Overnight sketch: 7 nights, including:

Trip overview:

Vietnam is proud to be a gay friendly destination besides Thailand and Taiwan. Even though LGBTQ community in Vietnam is still encountering a lot of difficulties in being officially recognized, there are a great deal of activities, events involved in gay world taken place in big cities. Follow this tour for a thorough understanding of gay life in our country, with opportunities to meet and talk with people.

Detailed Travel Plan

DAY 1: SAIGON ARRIVAL - THE CITY OF EQUAL RIGHTS

Saigon – a sleepless young city with over eight million inhabitants – is an important commercial center of Vietnam. The modern Saigon still retains its splendid moment with the historic landmarks.

Saigon is a great place to explore the local culture and also Pride life. You can choose to walk or ride around the city on motorbike or vintage vespa to witness the daily life or enjoy the night life with some options of LGBTQ bar or pub.

No meals included.

Overnight in your selected hotel.

DAY 2: SAIGON - MORNING LIKE SAIGONESE & GIVING A HAND TO LGBT COMMUNITY

One of the best ways to experience a real Saigon life is to start your day in the same way as local people do. The vespa wanderers team will come to pick you up at hotel in the early morning, and give you a fantastic ride around the town to show you interesting things that differentiate Saigon to others cities of Vietnam. We will join the hustling traffic, wander through the backstreets, enjoy breakfast and coffee in local style at one of the oldest stalls in Saigon. We will also stroll through some lively outdoor street markets where you will meet the friendly street vendors and listen to their own stories about making a living in this modern city. If time permits stop at some shoes stalls inside the market where people can make wooden clog for you in just few minutes (the clog shops are opened from 10:00 AM only, own expense).

Vietnam was hailed as a leader on gay rights in Southeast Asia after the country’s communist government abolished a ban on same-sex marriage last year. But discrimination still afflict lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth in the country according to local media.

Many young students and socialists are working on projects to enhance the knowledge of community about homosexuality, and to fight for same sex marriage legalization.

Plenty of non-profit organizations were established, with hundreds of campaigns, parades, conferences and education courses in order to encourage the acceptance of society. Today meet up with some of the most proactive students/volunteers/ leaders of the organizations and share with them your own experience and knowledge. Also, let them show you the current situation of gay life in Vietnam, and discuss with you on how to bring a better equality to LGBTQ in the country and to the world. Your help to the community is truly appreciated

Breakfast at hotel

Overnight in your selected hotel.

DAY 3: MEKONG DELTA OVERNIGHT CRUISE – OUT OF THE CROWD

Morning departure from Saigon for a 2.5hr drive to Cai Be in the Mekong Delta. Settle on board with a refreshing welcome drink followed by lunch as the ship begins cruising past fascinating riverscapes of the Delta. In the afternoon, take a guided walk through a village and the surrounding fruit orchards and rice fields to meet some of the friendly villagers and sample the local produce. Enjoy the sunset view over dinner as the ship cruises along the Mekong

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch and Dinner on board

Overnight in Gecko Eye Cruise

DAY 4: MEKONG DELTA - COLORFUL FLOATING MARKET – BACK TO THE CITY

Enjoy breakfast on board as the boat manoeuvres past colorful barges on the water and by wooden shipbuilding yards and racks of drying fruit on land. Check out and board a smaller boat to explore the famed Cai Rang floating market where dozens of boats laden with fruits, vegetables and fish from all over the Delta jostle for trade. Notice as goods are tossed from one end to the other in the cramped confines of the boats. There is activity in every direction making for amazing photo opportunities. Back on shore, a transfer awaits to transport you back to Saigon.

Home hosted meal and the story of freedom to love Vietnam is no doubt to become a gay friendly destination in Southeast Asia, Vietnamese are more and more opened to LGBTQ world, with many parents are standing to protect the rights of their gay children. However, this requires a great deal of effort from the LGBTQ community to flight for love freedom. Many gay couples still have to make great attempt in order to be recognized by the society and to live together. Today visit a lovely LGBTQ couple who have won the support from their families and friends, talk to them and listen to their stories of how they struggled to be recognized and how they are dedicating their time to help the community. Enjoy a home cooked meal with delightful Vietnamese cuisines prepared carefully by them.

Breakfast on board and Hosted dinner

Overnight in your selected hotel.

DAY 5: SAIGON - HANOI BY FLIGHT - ESSENTIAL HANOI

Hanoi is the charming capital of Vietnam and a city of French’s heritage, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes.

Visit to Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, dedicated to Confucius and a typical example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. End the day with a leisurely walking tour around the Old Quarter to witness the bustling local life reflected through small crowded streets where people have been trading things for centuries. Comb through the streets and choose to stop at any stalls specialized in handmade goods or simply enjoy local dishes if you wish.

Breakfast at hotel

Overnight in your selected hotel.

DAY 6: HANOI IN ANOTHER FACE - GAY LIFE BEHIND THE SPIRIT POSSESSION RITUAL

Meet up with your guide after breakfast, you will be taken to Hanoi Newspaper Office where you will see some people standing outside to read news on the bulletin board, which the locals usually say “standing newspaper”. The “standing newspaper” reflects the poorest time of Hanoians when buying a newspaper used to be too much to afford. Then stop at a local coffee shop for a sip of coffee in Hanoi’s style before heading to Gioi Market, an outdoor market selling thousands of electronics devices and essential supplies, from the smallest such as nails and batteries to large items such as motors, electronic goods and refrigeration equipment. Continue your exploration of Hanoi life with a 10-minute ride on local train from suburb back to downtown, following by a walk passing the first French bridge over the Red River and listen to the story of Red River Delta and Hanoi, keep walking along the railway to see the daily life of locals here. Wind through the busy street which is famous for hundreds of street food stalls. Stop to taste some snacks if you want to. Finally stop at a workshop of “Zo Paper Project” run by a team of dynamic young people who have spent years in contributing in the conservation of this tradition paper

Hầu Đồng, an age-old Spirit Possession Ritual which has just been recognized as Unesco intangible cultural heritage, is an art combination of various folk artistic values in terms of literature, music, dancing, fine arts, performing art and folk festival.

The performers, called spirit mediums (Đồng) be either male or female, are believed to be able to contact directly with the spirits of Mother Goddess, while the ceremony attendants (the audience) hope to have contact with the spirits to ask for their blessing. Interestingly, most of the male who play Đồng are gays.

They, comparing to other “Đồng”, somehow have a much better performance ability and better connection to Mother Goddess. Today meet up with a young gay who has been the spirit medium for many years, let him share with you all about his works, including the historic and cultural of Hầu Đồng, performance costumes and dances, about how he was chosen to become a spirit medium, and how his life is managed to be accepted as a gay in daily life. In some special days of the month, you might be able to witness a real ritual for an more inner view about this religion.

Breakfast at hotel

Overnight in your selected hotel.

DAY 7: HANOI - HA LONG BAY – A TOTALLY PRIVATE NIGHT

Halong Bay, is famous for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site is outstanding scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest

After breakfast, you will spend 3.5 hours on your private vehicle to Halong Bay. On arrival, register and enjoy welcome drink on board. Start cruising through the bay. Enjoy buffet lunch with Vietnamese dishes served while passing the most beautiful and quiet areas, such as Incense Burner, Dog Stone Islet, Fighting Cock, Soi Sim beach, Coconut Three Island. Then visiting Luon cave, and stop at Ti Top beach for swimming (if the weather permits). Back to the boat and free time while sailing to Luon Bo area, and anchor overnight

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch and Dinner on board

Overnight on cruise

DAY 8: HALONG - HANOI DEPARTURE

Wake up early and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the sunrise. Visit Sung Sot grotto where stalactites hanging from the high ceiling takes on numerous shapes and forms. having brunch while cruising back to Tuan Chau Wharf. Arrive at the jetty late morning and transfer back to Hanoi airport where you will take your departure flight home.

Brunch on board

End of Services!

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions:

Accommodation as specified in the itinerary, including daily breakfast, tax and service charge